If senior Clarence House courtiers have their way, Prince William will follow his spells in each of the armed services with a shorter one next year in the newsroom of a national newspaper. By Stephen Bates

Mountainous seas are threatening to sink four stranded ships after a series of dramatic rescues saw more than 40 crew and passengers winched to safety or taken off in lifeboats as gales swept over Britain

The government was coming under renewed pressure last night to launch an investigation into the home energy market after Scottish Power became the fourth power firm to announce an almost identical price increase to its rivals

Leader: Legislate first, think later. For politicians needing to show they can act decisively, the tactic has its advantages. But laws passed in haste have a horrible habit of coming back to haunt those who pass them.